Steve Bailey

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Posts posted by Steve Bailey

  1. Posted

    I think you're going to have to change to a CPU model with serial ports. You have a second serial port on the CMM311 module, but it is limited to SNP, CCM , and RTU protocols, none of which appear to be available on the scale. If you can get your hands on a CPU with a serial port (CPU351, CPU352, CPU363), there is sample ladder logic in the manual GFK-0582D for setting up the port to receive serial data.

    Another possibility could be if there is a second serial port on the HMI and if you can write a script in the HMI to handle serial port communications.

     

     

  2. Posted

    It is possible, but the devil is in the details.

    You will need to know the details of how the weigh scale interfaces to the world through it's serial port. Some can be set up to transmit the current weight periodically. Some will  only respond to requests from an external device like a PLC. On the 90-30 side, a lot depends on which hardware you're using. Some 90-30 CPU models have built-in serial ports that can be controlled from the ladder logic. In the absence of a CPU like that, there is the possibility to add a serial communications module or a Basic language programmable module with serial ports. 

    So for starters, what is the brand and model number of the weigh scale? How is the Proface HMI connected to the PLC? What PLC CPU model are you using? Are there spare I/O slots available in case you need to add a module?

  6. Posted · Edited by Steve Bailey

    Quote

    but when going to download logic changes, it wants to download hardware configuration changes

    I'm a little troubled by that statement. I've never had PME prevent me from downloading logic when hardware configuration shows not equal. Please explain. 

  7. Posted

    Does your application use separate motion programs 1 through 9? That's about the only thing you need motion programmer for. Anything else can be done in hardware configuration. That includes creating a 20-step motion program zero.

  8. Posted

    I have Quick Designer version 3.4 installed on an XP virtual machine. When I start a new project the CTC binary protocol is not among the options. My experience with the Quick Panel product line is from after they were acquired by GE. Perhaps GE did not include full support for Total Control Product's entire suite of communications protocols when they bought them. Have you tried contacting Proface? They may have better support for the vintage QP lineup.

    Note: I composed this response after I replied to your private message at PLCTalk.net

  10. Posted

    In Proficy Machine Edition software, open the hardware configuration for the PLC and double click on the CPU module. The field labeled "Logic/Configuration from" will probably be set to "PROM". Set it back to "RAM" and then download the revised configuration to the PLC. The PLC must be stopped while you download the configuration.

  11. Posted

    This is an old thread and your question isn't really related to the original topic.

    But, the most likely reason for what you're experiencing is that the CPU is configured to load its program from flash memory when RAM memory is blank. You will need to clear flash memory or change CPU configuration.

  12. Posted

    I have never set up FT View communications with anything, so I don't speak from experience. Nor do I know what FT View calls the tools they give the user to set up communications. I do know that SRTP is the name of a GE ethernet communications protocol. So establishing communications using it should be possible. To start, I would leave all settings other than the IP address at their default values since that is most likely what Rockwell used when they validated their offering.

  13. Posted

    It should be simple to set up. All you need is an ethernet port on your PLC. Of course you will need to know the IP address and its on you to properly configure the network so that the computer running FT View is on the same subnet as the PLC.

  14. Posted

    In Logicmaster, the name of the project file you select in the computer running LM90 needs to match the name of the program in the PLC in order to be able to make a connection. The exception to that rule is when the project file is named "Temp". So, if you don't already have a project file with that name, create one. If one already exists, select it, then you will be able to pull the program from the PLC to the "Temp" project file(upload). You can then save it as the correct name. The variable names and rung comments are not saved in the 90-30 PLC's memory so when you upload all you will be able to see are addresses.

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  15. Posted · Edited by Steve Bailey

    I've just about run out of ideas. The inability to upload either ladder logic or hardware configuration while still being able to upload data tables suggests that an OEM password is in place. But the message from Logicmaster is not what I've seen when I try to upload from a CPU with an OEM password. Another possibility is that the original programmer could have chosen to lock one or more of the program blocks. Program blocks can be view locked which prevents anyone from or edit locked which prevents anyone from modifying them. View locks and edit locks can be passworded or permanent.

    There is also the possibility that the program was not written in ladder logic, but in that case I think you can still upload the hardware configuration.

  17. Posted

    What port on what module are you using for communications? The ports on a communications coprocessor module (IC697CMM711) can't be used for program upload or download.

  18. Posted

    It is possible that the original programmer set up an OEM password. If that is the case you won't be able to upload. The message in Logicmaster would be "Insufficient privilege for requested operation". An OEM password is one level higher than Level 4.

    It's also possible that the project file you opened is set for a different CPU model than the one actually in place. I think Logicmaster's prompt for that scenario is to ask if you want to modify the upload for compatibility with the CPU model in the project file, or words to that effect. It could also be a Logicmaster or Proficy version issue relative to the firmware version in the PLC.

    Details on the message you get when you try to upload will help narrow down the possibilities.

  19. Posted

    Upload the program logic and reference tables from the PLC. Create a new project file and copy what you just uploaded to it. Manually configure the CPU settings and module information in the new project file. Download to a spare CPU and install it in place of the one currently working. Once you are satisfied that it is working properly you can clear the memory in the original.

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  20. Posted

    According to what is showing on the screen you are currently at level 4 access. Are you trying to assign a Level 4 password to a PLC that currently doesn't use one? What message do you get when you press "Y" from the screen shown?

    I think you need to stop the PLC in order to set a password. The password is part of hardware configuration and you have to stop the PLC to change hardware configuration.

  21. Posted

    Are you sure you set the password for level 4 and not for OEM protection?

    I'm also assuming you're not trying to use the colon ":" character as part of the password.

  22. Posted

    Is your problem that you can't remember the password you set back in 2017/ Or is it that you can't remember where in Proficy to enter the password for the access level you need?

  23. Posted

    This thread is more than fourteen years old. Also, given the context of this site, any GE catalogs are of limited relevance. GE has sold their PLC business to Emerson.

  24. Posted

    The upload process extracts the entire program. You can't exclude individual program blocks from the upload. Also, the uploaded program will not have any variable descriptions or rung comments.

    What software was used to create the backup project file you have? If you imported a Logicmaster or VersaPro project file into Proficy, when you go online with the PLC it will always show as not equal due to the change in software platform. You have to perform a download to achieve logic equality, even if the project file you imported is actually the same as the program running in the PLC.

    Try this. Open your backup project and try to find the offending rung in the subroutine. Correct the rung. Then get another CPU module. Download the corrected program to it and use it in place of the existing CPU350 to make sure if it correctly controls your machine. That way, if the backup program isn't the latest, you still have the correct version on the original CPU. Be sure to attach a battery to the CPU module when you remove it from the rack.

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  25. Posted

    Since all of the modules in the rack are simultaneously dropping out and reappearing, the next most likely culprit is the baseplate and not the individual modules. Check also to make sure the expansion cables are tightly connected to the rack.